I didn't use the word malicious, but I do see it as a scam that they expect the laptop returned to Apple for a battery replacement. That was the basis for this thread. Apparently Apple people love the idea they will have to bring their computer back to Apple once the battery fails. That's great I guess. I on the other hand prefer to not have to send off my computer to the manufacturer. I did have to do it for a recall wifi on my Compaq and as painless as they treated it and as fast of a turnaround (1 week) it still sucked.
Unlike other computer manufacturers Apple has retail outlets that can handle a lot of issues on site. The battery can be replaced and the computer returned to the owner same day at a retail store. It just isn’t the big deal you are trying to make it out to be. Now maybe if the batteries come no where close to the advertised useful life you would have a point, but we don’t know that yet. All in all, taking a computer in for one day at the mall while I did other shopping during the entire time of ownership is not that big of a deal. On the other hand if the battery lasts five years it will have most likely lasted the entire time I would plan to use it as my primary computer and the rest of the time I could leave it plugged in at the house if at all.
Scam, malicious, same intent: painting Apple as deliberately nasty.
It’s not a scam, it’s a paradigm shift.
The battery on my current laptop rattles a bit from imperfect connectors, wastes inordinate materials & space on layer after layer of protection facilitating that removability which I don’t use. The round Li-ion cells add overall volume which squared cells don’t need. I replaced the battery only once, and that only because a fluke of a class-action lawsuit got me a new one free. At $400 for a replacement, I’d rather just put the money toward a new laptop. The size/weight/price cost of replacability just doesn’t warrant having it.
As for sending it off to the manufacturer, maybe I’m just lucky that there are 3 Apple stores nearby, and _if_ I needed a replacement I’d just drop it off in the morning and pick it up in the evening - faster than ordering a replacement battery for any other computer.
You’re obsessing over an issue that would happen about 5 years after purchase - IF the owner even keeps the device that long.
All that said, when the time comes we’ll be able to buy a third-party battery anyway, and a little care & elbow grease and we’ll be able to replace it ourselves anyway.
Your complaints just don’t warrant the level of vitriol. You don’t like Apple products? why the heck are you bothering to post here then - and so prolifically? just don’t buy one. The paradigm works for us; if something else works for you, you’re welcome to go spend your money on some other product.